Mechanical adjuster



April 13, 1937.- E. c. DEAL 20,327

MECHANICAL ADJUSTER Original Filed Dec. 22, 1934 Reissued Apr. 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL ADJUSTER Erastus 0. Deal,

Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Original No. 1,999,016, dated April 23, 1935, Serial No. 758,846, December 22, 1934. Application for reissue August 20, 1936, Serial No. 97,085

8 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanical adjuster intended for universal application where a mechanical device is required for supporting or holding articles in various adjusted and fixed positions, such as leveling tables when on an uneven floor; taking the place of the rack and rack supporton a lifting jack; supporting the weight of an automobile when the wheel is lifted from the ground; as a door stop for holding a door ajar at any desired position, and for other purposes. I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front plan applied to a leg of a table;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the invention with the cover plate 2 removed and with the device in the position it assumes during the step of adjusting it to a different position, with the wedge members B and 9 drawn apart as far as the spring 11 will permit;

Fig. 4 is a front plan view of the invention in an adjusted position with parts of the device which are concealed by cover 2 indicated in dotted lines;

Fig.5 is a similar view of the invention with the cover plate 2 removed; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

view of my invention Referring to the accompanying drawing, I provide a holder consisting of a base 4 and a cover 2, the sides 3 of the cover 2 engaging over the sides 5 of the base 4, as shown in Fig. 2. These members are secured to an element to be adjusted, such as a table leg A as shown in Fig. 1, by means of screws l which pierce the cover 2 as at 1 andthe base 4 as at'G, as shown in Fig. 2. I provide an upper wedge B and a lower wedge 9 each having a similar foot ill at their respective outer ends. wedge 8 has a slot H and wedge 9 a similar slot I! through which the screws l are inserted to permit free sliding movement of the wedges relative to the screws l holding the casing elements to each other and to a member to be adjusted, such as the table leg A shown in Fig. 1. Extending between the inclined face or wedge surface ii of wedge 8 and the imposed inclined face or wedge surface ll of wedge 9, is a thin flexible metal strip l5 which I have devised and which has cutturned projections ii at its ends to engage over the ends of the respective sides 5 of the base 5 ,asshowninFlg's. 3, 4, and 5,asthecasingmembers 4 and 2 are open at the ends as shown in the drawing. 7

I provide a suitable fluted spiral or other spring I1 having bent-in ends l3 attached to the respective wedges 8 and 9 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to retain'same in proximity to each other while permitting them to be retracted slightly from each other.

The strip of metal and 9 and'tends to convey the strain or load to the body or case of the device, thereby preventing one wedge from being forced out of position by the other wedge and facilitating close or fine adjustment. ing wedge 8 or lowering wedge 9, the other wedge being caused to follow by the connection made between the wedges by spring H but as one wedge is raised or the other wedge lowered, the engagement with the thin metal strip I5 is released so that both wedges will slide longitudinally in the casing and the strip of metal will change its shape or conformation accordingly, as will be apparent by reference to Fig. 3, as it is quite flexible. When pressure is again exerted on the wedges the strip of metal causes them to wedge against the casing and lock in position thereby completing the adjustment and making it fixed as long as desired. As an illustration, if the body or case is attached to a table leg, as shown in Fig. 4, and it is desired to level the table in order to compensate for a low place in the floor, the adjustment would be accomplished by pressing down on wedge 9 until the proper adjustment or leveling is reached, then by a slight pressure on top of wedge} it will fasten or look wedge 9 in the desired permanent .position. It will be noted that the spring l1 causes the locking wedge to follow the supporting wedge whenthe latter is moved from one position to the other to get proper adjustment.

When using this device for holding a door ajar, the adjustment is accomplished in a similar manner. The device may be made of any suitable material and in various sizes to comply with the requirements for which the article may be used.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:-

1. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open at the ends, like wedges mounted in the casing and hav- I 5 separates the wedges B i Adjustment is accomplished byrais- Y of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and having projections at each end extending beyond and adapted to engage the outer edges of the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved.

2. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open at the ends, wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible thin strip of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and having projections at each end extending beyond and adapted to engage the outer edges of the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved.

3. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open at the ends, like wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible thin strip.

of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and extending beyond the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved.

4. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open-at the ends, like wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible thin strip of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of w the aforesaid wedgesand having projections at each end extending beyond and adapted to engage the outer edges of the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved, the aforesaid wedges having longitudinal slots fastening means extending through the casing and through said slots for fastening the casing to an article to be adjusted while permitting free slidable movement of the wedges in the casing.

5. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open at the ends, like wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, said wedges having feet at their outer ends, a flexible thin strip of 20,827 ing opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible thin strip metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and having projections at each end extending beyond and adapted to engage the outer edges of the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved.

6. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing, wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible strip of material extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and secured to the casing, at points beyond the respective wedge surfaces of the wedges to permit longitudinal adjustment of the wedges and means operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the from the other. i

7. In a mechanical adjuster of the type described, the combination of a casing open at one of the ends thereof, cooperating wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible strip of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges and retained by the casing at points spaced longitudinally thereof sumciently to permit longitudinal adjustment of the wedges, and means operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved away from the other.

8. In a mechanical adjuster cf the type described, the combinatlon of a casing open at one of the ends thereof, wedges mounted in the casing and having opposed wedge surfaces, a flexible thinstrip of metal extending between the wedge surfaces of the aforesaid wedges with the end portions thereof secured against substantial longitudinal movement with respect to the casing at points spaced from the ends of the wedge surfaces to permit longitudinal adjustment of the wedges, said strip ends extending along the casing at opposite sides thereof intermediate the wedges and the casing, and a spring operatively connecting the two wedges and permitting them to draw apart from each other slightly when one of the wedges is moved away from the other.

ERASTUS C. DEAL.

wedges is moved away 

